United States Avalanche Centers you can:

& Avalanche Advisories

recognize red flags
www.avalanche.org
AVA L A N C H E 1) Recent Avalanches

d
If there are new avalanches, more are possible.

SAF E T Y 2) Signs of Unstable Snow as

You Travel
Mother Nature’s Warning Signs
Note: Avalanche advisories are for the backcountry only • Cracking or Collapsing Snowpack
and do not apply to highway programs or operating ski areas. • Whumpfing sounds
ICON DANGER DESCRIPTION / RECOMMENDED ACTION • Hollow drum-like sounds on hard snow

Avoid all avalanche terrain. Natural and human-triggered

EXTREME avalanches certain. 3) Heavy Snowfall or Rain in
Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche the Past 24 Hours
HIGH terrain not recommended. Natural avalanches likely; Significant snowfall or rain can make the
human-triggered avalanches very likely.
snowpack unstable.
Dangerous avalanche conditions. Careful snowpack
CONSIDERABLE evaluation, cautious routefinding and conservative Avalanches are often triggered the first clear day after
decision-making essential. Natural avalanches possible;
human-triggered avalanches likely. a storm. Because it is sunny does not mean it is safe.

Heightened avalanche conditions on specific terrain

features. Evaluate snow and terrain carefully; identify 4) Wind Blown Snow
MODERATE features of concern. Natural avalanches unlikely; human-
triggered avalanches possible. Wind blown snow loads leeward slopes,
even when it is not snowing out.

Photo by MarkGallup.com
Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable
LOW snow on isolated terrain features. Natural and human-
triggered avalanches unlikely.

More people are killed during Considerable Avalanche

Danger than any other Danger Rating.

Additional Resources:
www.fsavalanche.org
www.americanavalancheassociation.org
Avalanche Facts: 5) Significant Warming or
Rapidly Increasing Temperatures
Snow Sense by Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler
Some days the steep slopes are safe, some days they Warm temperatures and gravity can cause the snow to
Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain by Bruce Tremper are unstable. Avalanche conditions are predictable. creep downhill and become less stable.
The Avalanche Handbook: 3rd Edition
by David McClung and Peter Schaerer 90% of avalanche victims die in slides triggered by
6) Persistent Weak Layers
themselves or a member of their group.
Take a Class! When these are buried in the snowpack, you may trigger
Check www.avalanche.org for course providers an avalanche weeks after a storm or when no other Red
After 35 minutes, a buried victim has only a 27%
Flags are present. They can be difficult to identify - check
chance of survival. the Avalanche Advisory for your area.
This brochure was made possible by a grant from
the Wattis Dumke Foundation,
the Friends of the Sawtooth NF Avalanche Center WHAT YOU CAN DO
and the FS National Avalanche Center.
avalanche rescue rec o g ni z e safe travel protocol
You Don’t Have Time to go For Help.
AVA L A N C H E terrain Better Your Odds, Minimize the Risk
It is Up to You! You only have 15 minutes for a g Never expose more than one person to avalanche danger
good chance to recover someone alive. slope angle at a time.
Avalanches generally occur on slopes steeper than 30 degrees and most often occur on One on a slope at a time (stay well spread out if you
g

Yell, alert others. Watch the victim! Establish a last seen point. slopes 35 to 50 degrees. Most expert ski runs have sections 34 degrees or steeper. must expose others).
Watch each other closely from safe locations.
g

Make sure it is safe to search. Don’t become a victim yourself. Avoid stopping in or beneath avalanche paths.
g

Establish a leader, make a plan. Never descend directly above a partner or other group.
g

Look for and check surface clues: gloves, boots, equipment. g Stay alert to changing snow stability due to changes in
Put them back in place. Listen. aspect, elevation, or weather factors (heavy precipitation,
wind, or warming).
Conduct a beacon search. Get close and probe before you dig.
g Communicate within your group, have options.
If the victim is not wearing a beacon, do not give up! Probe
around surface clues and in likely catchment areas. g Be prepared to do a rescue.

Are you prepared to perform first aid and possibly spend the Skiers and Snowboarders:
night out? g Always choose the safest route possible on the ascent. Stick
It is critical to practice rescues before you are faced with the Wind deposited snow to low angle ridges and dense trees.
real thing. g On the descent, ski or board one at a time, from one safe
point to the next.
Remember, the BEST DEFENSE is not
to get caught. 25-30% of fatalities are due to Snowmobilers:
trauma during the slide. If you get completely buried, g Highmark one at a time and never ride up to help a partner
get unstuck.
the odds for survival are only 30%. Breakover or
Photo: Sawtooth NF Avalanche Center

mid-slope g While highmarking, the rest of the group should park in a

Near rock outcrops steepening safe zone and watch.
If You Are Caught in an Avalanche:
or shallow areas in
Attempt to get off the slab, hang onto the downhill side of Snowmobilers cover much more terrain on a given day. If an
the snowpack
g

trees – Angle to get to the edge of the slide. Snowmobilers in a instability exists you are more likely to find it. Remain alert
few but not all cases may be able to outrun a slide. Cliffs, trees and rocks to changing conditions and don’t let your guard down.
Skiers and snowboarders: Attempt to discard skis, poles, or board.
Snowshoers:
Snowmobiles often end up at or near the surface and victims are A flat transition g If you travel into avalanche terrain you are at just as much
found nearby. or a gully means risk as other recreationists.
Attempt to roll onto your back with feet downhill. Swim hard, a deeper burial
fight, grab trees, dig into the bed surface.
As the avalanche slows or even before, thrust some part of aspect
your body above the surface and try to make an airspace around
Which way does
your mouth.
Common the slope face in
If completely buried, attempt to remain calm – your life is in the
terrain traps
Trigger Points relation to sun, wind?
hands your partners. Anything that increases
Under certain conditions avalanches Avalanche problems
the consequences of
may be triggered from flatter areas in may only exist on
being caught in a slide.
the runout zone or along ridge crests. certain aspects.